This Girl named H AID l.E!And her brother named boots. My father left to go to the colorado were toys and then her mother died.. The older brother Sold Farm. Those two were sent to a Orpha N a g e. This was really hard for them.Especially for her brother but they were planning to escape anywhere. They meant a nun who had a friend who delivered the Laundry. So she actually tried to marry this man and they left. This man was not nice to her.So we all left together to go to the colorado Territories. This became a journey along a twisting and turns. The husband tried to follow her. He was left behind. They met Man who was going to omaha nebraska. So they went along with him and his dog but then started to happen.They were robbed the man was killed. So when they got To Omaha, Nebraska. Name it another people who are going to denver colorado. These were sisters who were not married. Things got really crazy as they made their way but they made it. They went to.
The place where the father original wrote to them but he was not there. So they went back to denver colorado and this is really interesting part of the book. So they were still looking for their father, but as she read.This book at the end, you'll find out.I have a big surprise

Tough Luck had me concerned about Haidie and Boot from the first sentence:

Ma hadn't been in the ground more than an hour when my brother Cheet sold the farm.

What??!! and yea, Cheet doesn't get my vote for big brother-of-the year. These three are parentless, and Cheet who's got his eye on gaming tables and women drops his sibs off at the orphanage - Dickens a la mode. Haidie's got a great head on her shoulders, and little bro Boots is her faithful acolyte. Once things get squirrely in the orphanage, she makes a plan and sets their feet on the road to find Pa who wandered off in a western direction some time ago looking for valuable dirt. One of the best parts is Haidie's decision to quit being a girl for the duration, because as a boy she can officially function as a whole person. (While I love the cover, it confuses me - Haidie doesn't ever have a blonde braid down her back.) To go the rest of the way - and you should - I will leave you here, dear Reader.

I'll admit I had niggles about conflicts on the prairie. The buffaler (?) kill had me wincing, and "cowboy and indian" scenes certainly do not play out the same in my head as they did in years past. I want to stop, drop and interrupt everything. Do forensics and interviews. Look over laws and treaties. Luckily there were few of these presented, and it was clear from the narrative that the bad guys were a balance of all folks misbehaving - an adulterating reverend and his Salome were found bloody and dead in the lonesome grassland, having given all for their daring escape from wagon train morals and were left to quick disposition by a grownup and Haidie. I was relieved when their larger problems were skirted around and towns were quickly acquired for the characters.

All that said, Sandra Dallas has done it again - kept me entertained for a few hours between chores and work. A mixed bag but overall - 3.5 stars, with a bump up to 4 by Boots. Delightful.

*A sincere thank you to Sandra Dallas, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.*

Since switching her focus from nonfiction to fiction in 1990, author Sandra Dallas has published eighteen novels and four young adult books. The numerous accolades bestowed upon her work include the Women Writing the West Willa Award (six times), National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum’s Wrangler Award (three times), and the Western Writers of American Spur Award (four times). She and her husband live in Denver and Georgetown, Colorado, and have two grown daughters.

Tough Luck is her nineteenth published novel. She does not recall what inspired her to write it nor does she remember doing so more than a dozen years ago. After she finished the book, she set it aside, moved on to other projects, and completely forgot about it. Recently, her agent’s assistant discovered the draft and brought it to her agent’s attention, who also could not recall why it had been abandoned. Dallas says reading it again after so long was like “reading somebody else’s book.” She had even forgotten how the story ended. After some polishing, Tough Luck was published and became “found treasure” — for readers, as well as Dallas, who loves “writing in first voice, using period slang and politically incorrect language, such as ‘spinster.'”

Dallas notes that her more recent books have had a serious tone, “with a lot of death.” But she aptly describes Tough Luck as “light-hearted” fare that has been compared not only to True Grit, but also The Sting.

The story opens in 1863 and is told in the distinct voice of fourteen-year-old Mary Haidie Richards. Within an hour of their mother’s burial, Haidie’s brother, Cheet, nineteen years old, sells the Illinois family farm for nine hundred and fifty dollars. Haidie is furious because, unlike Cheet, she believes their father is still alive and will eventually return. He set out for Colorado territory in 1859, and they received only three brief letters from him, the last having arrived almost two years ago. Worse, Cheet claims that the farm was his to sell, and gives Haidie and their younger brother, Boots, a mere forty dollars from the proceeds of the sale. “You are fourteen and a girl and have no rights. Tough luck,” he tells her. Cheet returned home from the war after serving only two months in the Union army, claiming he was wounded. Haidie believes he is a deserter. And now he plans to become a riverboat gambler and has arranged for Haidie and Boots to board at a home for orphans and foundlings.

At the orphanage, Haidie discovers that Cheet, posing as a priest, lied to the matron, who believes Haidie to be only twelve years old. And the matron disregards Haidie’s insistence that she and Boots are not orphans. But Haidie tells readers, “I’m going to inform you of something you ought to know about me. I lie. I do not do it to be ornery or because I am wicked. I lie because it is to my benefit, and . . . it is an easy thing. I can look a person right in the eye and lie myself silly. I see no harm in it at all.” She adds that readers should also know “I can be a sneak thief if I want to be.” And demonstrates her skill. She is already plotting. In the spring, she and ten-year-old Boots are going to escape the orphanage and go find their father.

Haidie’s time in the orphanage is brief. She looks out for Boots, and fends off bullies and thieves. She befriends Sister Teresa, “a nun-in-training” who was sent to the orphanage for being “an incorrigible.” Her baby, born out of wedlock, was placed with her sister and Teresa refused to reveal the identity of the child’s father. But Haidie knows Teresa and Billy Stover, who delivers laundry, are in love. She devises an ingenious and hilarious scheme to escape from the orphanage with their assistance. The last time Cheet comes to visit Haidie and Boots, he tells her he’ll return in a month. “Tough luck,” I thought. “Me and Boots won’t be here.”

Free from the orphanage, their adventure begins in earnest. It isn’t long before Teresa has had enough of Billy, and she agrees to travel with Haidie and Boots to Colorado to find their father. Haidie plans to hire on with someone headed that way, and although she’s fairly sure that travel would be easier for just her and Boots, she promised Teresa back at the orphanage that they would stick together. Even though she has only known her for a short while, she thinks of Teresa as her friend. “I may be a liar, but when I give my work, I keep it.”

Disguised as a boy, Haidie convinces Jacob “Jake” Crowfoot to take them as far as Omaha with Haidie and Boots helping him with his team of six mules and Teresa doing the cooking. From Omaha, Jake advises they can likely join a wagon train with which to make the rest of the journey to Colorado. Teresa is petite and pretty, and Haidie is grateful that her presence sealed the deal with Jake. Luckily, Jake is an honest, honorable man who isn’t fooled when Teresa claims to be Haidie and Boots’ mother. And figures out exactly why it would be best for all of them to leave town as early as possible in the morning. Jake and his dog, Tige, become the next members of Haidie’s extended family and support network.

The journey is fraught with distinct types of danger, and the group encounters some colorful characters along the way. One of them is Cornelius Vander who is on the run after being caught cheating in a poker game. With soft hands (to feel the edges of the cards he has shaved), a slew of aliases, and gentlemanly airs, “his stories were whoppers,” according to Haidie, but they “livened up the evenings.” He teaches Haidie new ways to gamble that even Cheet didn’t know. They also run into criminals intent on harming them. But at last they arrive in Omaha and say goodbye to Jake and Teresa. Before they part, Jake helps Haidie and Boots join a wagon train on the condition that Haidie will drive a wagon while the scout, Ben Bondurant, is on the lookout. With the wagons being pulled by oxen, instead of mules, it’s a slow-moving train and they only progress about ten to twelve miles per day. The travelers are an eclectic bunch and include two “old maid” sisters (aged twenty-seven and twenty-nine). Miss Lizzie and Miss Arvilla are on their way to join their brother, Edwin, who owns a bank in Denver, and set up a school. They could well afford to travel by stagecoach, but “are determined to prove we are every bit as capable as men” and have an “adventure.” Of course, the wagon train begins “to come across Indians,” not all of whom are friendly and they find themselves in peril, the sisters’ wish for adventure exponentially fulfilled.

At times, Haidie almost forgets she is a girl because being a boy is “more fun. Nobody told me to mind my manners or keep to the wagons or that young ladies shouldn’t run across the prairie the way I did.” Haidie is extremely self-aware – yes, she will lie if it furthers her agenda, but she is also loyal and honest most of the time. She looks out for Boots, as she promised their father she would, and her determination never falters. She believes to her core that their father is alive and she will search relentlessly for him until she learns his fate. Most of the people she meets along the way immediately recognize her kind nature, intellect, and generous spirit, and, like readers, take her into their hearts, happily providing support, assistance, and protection to the young woman – few are fooled by her disguise – and her little brother.

Eventually, Haidie learns her father’s fate and with the help of generous and, in some cases, influential folks she has met during her journey, a plan is devised and executed to get justice for him.

Tough Luck is a quintessentially American story. Dallas whisks readers back to 1863, immersing them in a fast-paced narrative that is full of surprises. Her main characters – Haidie, Boots, Jake, Teresa, Cornelius, and the “old maids” – are vividly imagined and come to life believably. Their dialogue is crisp and credible, appropriate for the time period in which the story is set if not entirely acceptable today. All of them are flawed in their own ways, but lovable. Especially, of course, Haidie, who is inarguably the centerpiece of the tale.

Comparisons to both True Grit and The Sting are inevitable, but Tough Luck stands on its own merits as a thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable story of a young woman who refuses to have others design her life or decide her fate for her. She remains true to herself and unwavering in what her gut tells her about her father. All Haidie really wants “is to be a family again.” Her dogged pursuit of the truth yields the answers she travels all the way to Colorado to find. But will she get the happy ending she wants so badly? Finding out is a delightful experience.

“Tough Luck” is a brave and heartfelt journey across the American West. It shows how courage, friendship, and hope can help you overcome hard times. Perfect if you enjoy stories about young heroes, friendship, and discovering what family really means.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to friends. #NetGalley #SandraDallas #ToughLick

This is a short book that is so very powerful. Once again she has a strong female lead who you are invested in immediately. I love how the story unfolds, how well it flows with a satisfying ending - no unanswered questions. Great read!

Sandra Dallas is an auto-read author for me, one of those authors where I will pick up the book just because she wrote it. Some of her books are so emotional and sad, but every single one is wonderful. I was extra excited when I saw that this one was inspired by True Grit, which I also loved. I love any story set on the frontier, so I was destined to love this one too.

And I did! What stood out to me most is that this one isn't sad. We follow 14 year old Haidie and her brother Boots as they join up with a wagon train and head out West in order to find their father, who is out trying to find gold. Haidie disguises herself as a boy to make the journey, which shows her determination, bravery, and strength. This story felt more like a Western coming-of-age adventure story than anything else. I was rooting so hard for Haidie and Boots to end up in a good place once they came to the end of their journey. I loved all of the connections they made along the way, especially the older sisters that were also traveling with the wagon train. They were both fiercely independent at a time in history where women weren't encouraged to be that way, and they inspired Haidie to be confident in her independence as well.

Really great! Sandra Dallas and her stories of strong, independent women never let me down.

Tough Luck takes place during 1863 when a young woman ends up taking a journey west to find her gold-mining father. The book was such an adventure to read. All of the characters in this were interesting and Haidie I liked the best. The author did a good job writing this one and I look forward to reading more of her books. Overall, this is one that I did enjoy and would recommend to any reader who likes Western books. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin Press for this read in exchange of my honest review of Tough Luck by Sandra Dallas.

First of all, THIS COVER! I’m a girl that will snag a book just for its cover and this one is no exception.

Told from Haddie’s perspective, this young girl is tough, spunky and doesn’t let anything stop her from her goal of reaching Colorado to find her father. This story grabbed me from the first chapter! It was full of heart and so much adventure. The array of characters in the story was probably my favorite part. They were so well developed and added so much color to the story.

It is often through tough times or on adventures like these with so many twists and turns that you can truly see what people are made of. Their true nature shines through and I really enjoyed how we watch that play out for Haddie, Boots and the rest of the characters.

If you’re looking for a heartwarming western then check this out!! Thank you to NetGalley & for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Usually I am not a fan of coming of age type stories, but this one drew me in.
Set in the 1860s we follow Haidie and her brother Boots as they travel west looking for their gold-mining father. Along the way, they meet quite a group of quirky characters who help and hinder their journey.
This was a fun adventure story with quite a few twists thrown in. I loved Haidie and her cleverness and tenacity. She was definitely a girl who got things done. It had a similar feel, but was more light hearted than This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger.
This one is already published so definitely check it out if you like adventure stories with clever female leads.
Thank you to @netgalley for providing me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #ToughLuck

This was my first Sandra Dallas novel and I really enjoyed it!

The author's writing style completely transported me into the Gold Rush days. From the characters' dialogue to the descriptions of their environment, I was totally immersed in the timeline throughout the whole story. The main character Haidie is a 14-year-old spitfire of a girl and the story is perfectly told from her POV. We see her mature and evolve as she meets more people along the trail and is exposed to different personalities and ways of life and her growth and development was beautifully captured. The side characters were excellent and added humor, wisdom and love to the story.

The second half dragged a bit and the ending was tied up just a bit too neatly for my personal preference, but overall this was a great read! Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an early digital copy through NetGalley.

I thought this story was really interesting when I requested to read it. I felt it had some good parts but it kind of dragged on in my opinion.

I enjoyed this book. As with all Sandra Dallas’ books, this one has fantastic characters! I loved Haidie! She is a go getter and a hot mess all in one. This book keeps you entertained from start to finish!

As someone who grew up watching the John Wayne version of True Grit, I was a little apprehensive going into this book if it would be good or not. It ended up exceeding my expectations and made the story it's own.

Haidie is are main character, a young girl who is looking for her pa, after ma died and her older brother abandoned them at an orphanage after selling the family farm. Haidie and her younger brother Boots are determined to find Pa, who went off searching for gold in Colorado. Haidie first has to find a way for them to leave the orphanage, and then after that, for them to find a way to get all the way to Colorado safely. This is no easy feat and is one that takes them on an adventure of a lifetime. They meet so many different characters along the way, with some of them being good, helpful, and wanting the best for Haidie and Boots, and others who are liars and cheaters and willing to do anything for a little bit of money.

Overall, this book, while paying homage to True Grit, tells an alternative version of what Haidie could have done in order to get to Colorado and see what happened to her Pa, it's really its own story entirely. This story is one that shows the harsh realities of the Old West especially how it was on the wagon trains, and then in the old gold mining towns. It does not glamorize much and instead shows what Haidie would have really seen if she were travelling in this time period as a young woman, and the things she has to do in order to keep herself safe on the journey.

I recommend this one for anyone wanting a little Oregon Trail nostalgia without all the dysentery.

Tough Luck was such a gem. I picked it up not knowing what to expect, and now I’m a full-on fan. This book was so well done—clean, clever, and just plain fun to read. It’s got that old-school Western grit, but with a heroine who brings her own bold, irreverent voice to the table. I didn’t want to put it down.

The story follows Haidie Richards, a determined and scrappy girl who breaks out of an orphanage with her little brother, Boots, in search of their missing gold-mining father. Disguised as a boy, she heads west in 1863 with nothing but stubbornness and blind hope. What follows is part Oregon Trail, part True Grit, with a cast of oddball characters—including two fiercely independent sisters, a charming card shark, a loyal (and vicious) dog, and more than a few unsavory types. There’s mule wrangling, danger, dust, and heartbreak, but also hope and grit and a whole lot of heart.

What I loved most was how vivid the writing was. The details are so alive you can almost feel the dirt under your boots and hear the creak of wagon wheels. Haidie’s voice is strong and full of personality without feeling forced. The book hits that sweet spot where it feels adventurous and classic, but still fresh and easy to read.

Now, my only gripe—and it’s random, but it stuck with me—is the cover. I know, I know, we’re not supposed to judge, but seriously? It feels like the artist didn’t even glance at the manuscript. The girl’s hair is wrong, the horse is the wrong color, and the whole aesthetic misses the wild, rugged, slightly chaotic West that the actual story captures so well. I kept wishing the cover matched the spirit of the book, because the story inside deserves way better.

Still, five stars all the way. The storytelling is just too good. I already want to get my hands on more from this author. If they write it, I’m reading it.

I feel horrible saying this but I read a third of the book and was so bored I gave up. That’s not my usual style, I hate having to DFN.
There are other rave reviews, so perhaps I wasn’t in the right frame of mind and should give it another chance…..one day.

Looking for a mild and fun western? You’re in luck! Tough Luck by Sandra Dallas is the perfect western adventure for even the most sensitive of readers.

Haidie Richards and her younger brother Boots find themselves abandoned at an orphanage after their mother dies. Instead of accepting their fate, Haidie convinces Boots to escape and go looking for their Father, who four years earlier left to seek his fortune in gold mining in the Colorado territory. She travels disguised as a boy with Boots on a wagon train headed to Colorado. On the trail they meet delightfully funny and honest characters as well as some not so honest men.

You will find yourself rooting for Haidie Richards every step of the way. When she meets lovely people who help her out, you’ll rejoice! When she gets into a precarious situation, you will worry about her. This book never becomes graphic but alludes to the violence and dangers of being a young woman traveling on a wagon train.

The atmosphere of this book is spectacular. You can feel the breeze from the plains and hear the soft rock of the wagon wheels as they roll along.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I love the female lead in this one. When she is faced with her older brother abandoning her and their younger brother, Boots, she does NOT stand for it. She decides to live life as a boy so she's allowed to do harder work. She takes wonderful care of her family while also trying to find her father. She had such courage and belief in herself when trying to find her father.
This short(er) novel truly packs a punch with this story. I would highly suggest this novel and would read more of Sandra's books.

This historical fiction from the 1800's followed a young girl and her brother set to travel west in search of their pa. Their adventures along the way are well detailed and enjoyable. I did not feel like the book dragged and was a very enjoyable read. I don't always find that historical fictions are hard to put down, but this one was. I was a little concerned when I realized there was only 10 chapters to the book but they moved quickly. The writing was well done and it does a good job of putting the reader's mind in the time period with the detail and descriptions. I really enjoyed Hadie and Boots' story and would recommend!

Sandra Dallas delivers compelling historical novel with Tough Luck, following 14-year-old Haidie Richards as she and her younger brother escape an orphanage to search for their father in 1860s Colorado. Disguised as a boy, Haidie braves the harsh frontier, forming bonds with a ragtag group of travelers while learning resilience and self-reliance. Dallas’ vivid storytelling immersed me in the rugged West, blending adventure, heartbreak, and hope.

Haidie was a standout protagonist: spirited, determined, and deeply caring. The first-person narration brought her voice to life, making her journey feel personal and poignant. Though the chapters were long, the pacing never dragged, thanks to Dallas’ engaging prose and well-developed side characters.

Fans of "Where Coyotes Howl" will appreciate this tale of grit and survival. A satisfying, emotionally rich read that cements Dallas’ skill for bringing history to life. 4.0/5 stars!

This is my first Sandra Dallas novel, but it won’t be my last. Dallas’s writing style fits this story well, very spare, much like the novel True Grit that she’s paying homage to. Even though the writing style wasn’t fancy, the characters were well-developed and I enjoyed following their story. If you’re a fan of westerns or historical fiction, you’ll want to be sure to pick this one up.